Calliope's Coffee House

Author Interview: C A Milson

2009-01-14T11:50:00.002Z

I was lucky enough to have a copy of C A Milson's debut novel "The Chosen" wind up in my email inbox at the beginning of the new year. After my reading and reviewing of it, here's the added bonus of an interview on his take on being a writer. This is a series of questions that Chris kindly agreed to answer via email. There are more questions I'd like to ask after reading his answers but I guess I can't have everything...

Where are you from originally?

I am originally from Australia. I grew up in Kedron which is a suburb of Brisbane.

Give me a little background on your debut novel "The Chosen".

In 1989, I was living in Melbourne and the idea for the original story came from a hobbytex picture my mother had on her wall. The picture was of a yellow moon behind a rustic shack. I remember that I was sat at the table staring at the picture and got the whole idea for Shack of Evil from that picture. That first short story was a 9 page story based on the character Jamiesonn. Even though it was my first "real" story, I still thought that I could do better. What can I say? I'm a perfectionist! Shack of Evil had always been the basis for The Chosen. Now a lot had been cut out, and it took so many rewrites until I was satisfied with the finished product.

I know you’re writing another book, a sequel to "The Chosen" what’s in the pipeline after that?

Once Bloodline of Darkness is complete, I will write the final book in the series, Prophecy's End. After that, then I guess it's back to my roots and rewrite the other 25 short stories. I have one project that I have on the back-burner, which is a sci-fi story, so I may try my hand at making a film.

Did you know you wanted to be a writer as a child or did it just sneak up on you as you got older?

Well, writing has been in my family for generations. My grandmother was a gifted writer. She used to write jingles for tv and radio in Australia, many of which are still used today. So maybe a part of her influenced my writing, but then again... It wasn't until I lived in a small town near Torquay that the real inspiration kicked off.

If you had to choose, which writers would you consider most significant to you?

H.P.Lovecraft. The man was a genius.

Do you have to travel much, and how do you fit that in with your normal life as well as your writing schedule?

I travel mostly for pleasure. Last year I was fortunate to travel some 70,000km. I went from New Zealand to Russia to China to New Zealand then to Australia then to Japan and back to Russia. (Whew!!) When on the road I always take the laptop with me to kill some time during the long hauls, but I do get ideas from places I have been. I try and maintain a balance in there somewhere to work and write and do everything else that is otherwise my hectic life.

Do you ever imagine something so "out there" that you leave yourself wondering "where did that come from!?"

Sometimes I do. Sometimes I will be staring somewhere and an alternate version of reality will pop into my mind ... and there I go again.. :-)

Do you ever suffer from writer's block? If so, what do you do about it?

There are times when I have no idea where to take the plot, and that frustrates me, and that can last for days or weeks at a time. So I try and think of something else and wait for inspiration. But, in this latest book, Alex is in an elevator, and to take a spin on reality, I decided to make an alternate reality, where everything going on is an illusion...

Where do you hope to take your writing in the future?

I hope to be writing for many years to come. After all, I am happiest when I write, so I intend to release many more novels in the future.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us about being an author?

For those who have the dream of being a writer, I would say do not give up. If it is your passion, keep on going. It may sound cliched, but it is true. It took me a long time to get published, and once that happens, you will never look back. If you have the talent, use it. Wasted talent is a wasted life.

Tuesday Thingers: Common Knowledge

2009-01-13T15:09:00.004Z

Thanks to Wendi at Wendi's Book Corner for this week's question.

Question:

A few weeks ago, someone told me about the Common Knowledge feature of Library Thing. The statistics and basic information can be found through a link at the bottom of any page. Currently there are over 869,540 facts that have been entered. How do they get there? We add them!

It took me a while to figure out that you enter them from the book or author page. When you have a book or author page pulled up, if you look at the left hand side, there are a bunch of links you can choose from. One of them is Common Knowledge. If you click the link, it will bring up a section where you can add facts.

Have you ever looked at the Common Knowledge page, or viewed the history of changes/additions? If you were aware of this section, have you added any information? Do you find this information useful or interesting?

Answer:

I love Common Knowledge, I've been adding details for months on and off. Mostly I add series information, dates of publication and if I really get into the swing of it I add characters and locations. I find the whole thing extremely interesting.

However, there's always an however with me, the thing that annoys is people will come along and add something without looking at what others have added previously, so you can get conflicting info. I think some LTrs don't realise that Common Knowledge is site wide rather than being just for their personal library.

Book Review: The Chosen by C A Milson

2009-01-11T18:12:00.001Z

ISBN: 978-1934475812
Publisher: Amira Press
Copyright © July 2008, C. A. Milson
Cover art by Mariya Krusheva © July 2008
Author Website: C A Milson
204 Pages, Paperback, Ebook
Genre: Horror, Supernatural

Visions, illusions, supernatural visitations, demons, angels… if that is what you want to read about, then this debut novel by C. A. Milson is packed to the page edges with them.

Alex Manning is seeing things, particularly malevolent things; the human race is under threat from demons who will enslave us all. There is something special about Alex and unfortunately the evil entities know it and decide to take steps. “The Chosen” is the story of his search for a way to fight for mankind’s deliverance from evil, and to keep from getting killed in the process.

The book is classed as supernatural/horror and it lives up to its genre. Initially I thought "I’ve been here before", it was familiar and gave me that feeling of "I know what’s going to happen next".

In my opinion the plot has elements of "The Second Coming" and "The Book of Revelations". That and the author’s style put me in mind of some early Graham Masterton and Guy N. Smith novels. There is blood, possession, demons, sex, and of course there is also the one who must put his life and soul on the line.

A couple of chapters in though and the familiarity receded. The story took on a life of its own, and carried me right along with it. I was as unsure as Alex whether the visions were visitations or illusions or precognition. I was kept on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next and if anyone was going to come out of this unscathed.

I really did enjoy this story. The only downside I have is that it was too short. Please, next one, make it a bit longer!

Visit C. A. Milson’s blog where there is a chance to win an autographed copy of "The Chosen" click here

New Year New Life New Blog... Maybe

2009-01-02T21:52:00.008Z

As you can see my page has changed a lot, don't worry, it's nowhere near finished, in fact it is barely begun. So really it's changing just like me. Besides I can't decided on whether to move the whole kit and caboodle over to WordPress or not. I need somewhere that I can separate out the basic 3 kinds of posts, reviews, 500 word fiction and me just generally wittering on.

New Year happened. It went by without much help from me, I've only just realised that over the whole Christmas period the sum total of my alcohol intake was 1 glass of wine and 2 Moscow Mules.

I'm still living at my eldest Sister's place and probably will be for some time to come, unless of course I win the lottery. It's not ideal but I'm grateful just the same. We get on ok most of the time and when we don't there are different rooms to hide in :)

2009

As I mentioned in an earlier post I'm thinking of reviewing DVD's too, a little different from books but it could be enjoyable. I'm also going to concentrate very hard this year on writing. I've been putting it off for far too long and maybe I can get somewhere with it. My imagination knows no bounds so why should I?

So I wish you all a very productive, prosperous, safe and contented 2009 and hope to see you here or there as soon as I've remembered how to change the code for this page, or moved to a brand new web site.

That's all folks (said in my best Bugs Bunny voice aren’t you sorry I don't have sound?)

Contributions to Calliope Experiment #6

2008-12-31T14:45:00.003Z

Here's this week's picture. Remember 500 words on what it puts into your mind. Put a link to your piece of work in the comments for this blog so that others can read, comment and perhaps join in the experiment in future.

Deadline for Experiment #6 - Sunday 4th January 2009

Contributors So Far:

Bob Dylan and the Cat by Joe Butler from bobdylanpaint

The Impy for best... goes to!

2008-12-30T22:07:00.009Z

This is just a bit of fun, you get the golden globes, emmy's, oscars even razzies so I thought an Impy for video clips that make me smile, laugh, cry or hide behind the sofa.

First for animation, I absolutely adore this video its so well made but it does make me sniffle a little. This is the original I believe not one that someone has taken and added a sound track to.

Kiwi

Public Information Films. I'm not sure when this appeared on our TV screens I only know that I remember it as a child and it did it's job, scared me silly. I think it may be Donald Pleasance doing the voice over but don't quote me on that.

Dark and Lonely Water

Music. I found these set of clips and just couldn't choose so I've used a complilation. I love these guys they are so talented and so very funny. It's a long vid though about 8 minutes.

Igudesman and Joo and A little Nightmare Music.

Comedy. I have two selections first it is my all time favourite Eddie Izzard. I actually saw this particular show, when I came out of the theatre I resembled a panda, tears of laughter had made my mascara run.

Eddie Izzard - Machines That Lie

And comedy again Bill Bailey, not really sure how to explain him, so I'll let this clip do it.

Bill Bailey - Chaucer Pubbe Gagge

I think that will do for tonight, hope you get around to watching these and enjoy at least some of them.

Another List!

2008-12-30T00:36:00.011Z

This is the beginning of my reading list for next year, cheap because I have all of the books listed so I don't need to buy any more for a few weeks, but then when did the fact that I don't need to, ever stop me? (There are a couple that aren't in print yet but that won't stop me either :p)

Fiction

Puck of Pook's Hill by Rudyard Kipling

Attack of the Unsinkable Rubber Ducks by Christopher Brookmyre

The Poe Shadow by Matthew Pearl

The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

At The Mountains of Madness by H P Lovecraft (Omnibus 1)

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys

Tarka The Otter by Henry Williamson

Cold Skin by Albert Sanchez Pinol

Dexter in the Dark by Jeff Lindsay

Rapscallion by James McGee

Hinterland by James Clemens

Shadow Fall by James Clemens

Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews

Non Fiction/Biography

Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang

Faith and Treason: The Story of the Gunpowder Plot by Antonia Fraser

Marley and Me by John Grogan

Dear Fatty by Dawn French

That's Another Story: The Autobiography by Julie Waters

Pendragon: The True Story of Arthur by Steve Blake

The Undertaking: Life Studies from the Dismal Trade by Thomas Lynch

Classics

The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

Three Men in a Boat: To Say Nothing of the Dog by Jerome K Jerome

Don Quixote by Cervantes

Louise de Valliere by Alexandre Dumas

Scaramouche by Rafael Sabatini

The Black Tulip by Alexandre Dumas

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

The Iliad by Homer

The Odyssey by Homer

The Man in the Iron Mask by Alexandre Dumas

The Vicomte de Bragellone by Alexandre Dumas

Twenty Years After by Alexandre Dumas

I will write a post soon about me, family, dogs, what's on tv, what I overheard on the bus who knows... and it won't include books, I promise!

Books and what they mean to me

2008-12-28T21:29:00.005Z

I've been checking out my books (surprised I bet you are!) and I've come to the belated conclusion that I'm never going to make the pile go away or stop growing. It's the nature of books, they multiply. Short of giving away every book I own and never buying another it's not going to happen. Actually the very thought of giving them away feels almost like I've suggested having a book burning party in the back garden with Adolph as lead torch bearer.

I think this may explain the way I feel about my books.

They are my friends, my memories, my hopes and dreams. I can pick up any one of my collection and as I hold it in my hands I am transported to the time it came into my possession, be it when I was 5 or 35. Or on reading the pages I can remember the first or even fifth time I read those words and what was happening in my life, with my family, or who I was in love with. I use them as life markers as much as for the stories on their pages. Some people use photographs for this, for me its my books.

The stories, poems, prose when I read I'm there, either watching from the shadows or participating with as much emotion as the characters. They make me laugh and sometimes they make me cry (and believe me crying does not come easily to me). Whether I wish to feel happy, sad, childish, angry, uplifted, inspired all I have to do is choose one of my friends.

Funny this post was going to be about some of the books I'd be reading in 2009, got sidetracked, but I'll get to them all at some point in my life, they're certainly not going anywhere.

2008 Book List

2008-12-28T12:20:00.005Z

Almost at the year's end so I thought I'd do a little housecleaning. These are my books read in 2008, clearing the way for a new selection on January 1st. Some were reviewed but sadly most were not. I'll do better next year.

A Blunt Instrument by Georgette Heyer
A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute
All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris
An Ice Cold Grave by Charlaine Harris
Atlantis by David Gibbins
Bear Island by Alistair MacLean
Behold Here's Poison by Georgette Heyer
Beneath the Bleeding by Val McDermid
Black Order by James Rollins
Bones to Ashes by Kathy Reichs
Breakheart Pass by Alistair MacLean
Club Dead by Charlaine Harris
Confessor by Terry Goodkind
Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay
Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris
Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris
Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
Dearly Devoted Dexter by Jeff Lindsay
Death in the Stocks by Georgette Heyer
Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris
Detection Unlimited by Georgette Heyer
Duplicate Death by Georgette Heyer
Envious Casca by Georgette Heyer
Flyte by Angie Sage
Footsteps in the Dark by Georgette Heyer
Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris
Grave Surprise by Charlaine Harris
Greywalker by Kat Richardson
Guilty as Sin by Tami Hoag
Lily by Adele Geras
Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris
Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews
Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews
Magyk by Angie Sage
Malarkey by Keith Gray
Map of Bones by James Rollins
No Wind of Blame by Georgette Heyer
Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination by Helen Fielding
Pandora in the Congo by Albert Sánchez Piñol
Penhallow by Georgette Heyer
Phantom by Terry Goodkind
Physik by Angie Sage
Puppet on a Chain by Alistair MacLean
Ratcatcher by James McGee
Resurrectionist by James McGee
Sacred Stone by Clive Cussler
San Andreas by Alistair MacLean
Sandstorm by James Rollins
Still Waters by Tami Hoag
The Alexander Cipher by Will Adams
The Bone Collector by Jefferey Deaver
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The Coffin Dancer by Jefferey Deaver
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
The Distant Echo by Val McDermid
The Echo by Minette Walters
The Guns of Navarone by Alistair MacLean
The Interpretation of Murder by Jed Rubenfeld
The Ladykiller by Martina Cole
The Magic Cottage by James Herbert
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
The Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope
The Runaway Jury by John Grisham
The Shakespeare Secret by J L Carrell
The Shape of Snakes by Minette Walters
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
The Throwback by Tom Sharpe
The Unfinished Clue by Georgette Heyer
They Found Him Dead by Georgette Heyer
Trojan Odyssey by Clive Cussler
Veil of Darkness by Gillian White
Where Eagles Dare by Alistair MacLean
Why Shoot A Butler by Georgette Heyer
Wit'ch Fire by James Clemens
Wit'ch Gate by James Clemens
Wit'ch Star by James Clemens
Wit'ch Storm by James Clemens
Wit'ch War by James Clemens

75 Books Challenge for 2009 on LibraryThing

2008-12-27T21:29:00.006Z

From Calliope's Coffee House

I intend starting this challenge from January 1st and if I run true to form I hope I'll be reading more than 75 books next year. Anyway, I will endeavour to write reviews of all the books I read be they good or bad (the books that is not my reviews, though... nevermind).

I've been reading what other challengers have been saying, and they seem so organized with lists of what they intend to read and so on... me I'm more of the, pick up a book and read it if I feel like it, persuasion. I do have some rules though, whether I break them or keep them remains to be seen.

Read at least 10 non fiction books

Read at least 10 classics

Read at least 10 biographies/autobiographies

Those are my rules, not too onerous I believe.

I've linked this blog to the LibraryThing group for the challenge so if anyone is interested in seeing what everyone else is doing then just click on the title. (If you're not a member of LT you may have to join to see I'm not sure, it's free though and who knows you might get hooked like thousands of others have).

Right, time to go and make a cup of tea and look at my TBR mountain. Wish I'd asked for crampons for Christmas.

The Calliope Experiment #6

2008-12-26T14:16:00.007Z

Brought back by popular demand of well... me.

Here are links to the previous weeks contributors.

#1, #2, #3, #4, #5

It's been a while since the last challenge so just to recap on what this is about - take a copy of the pictures that I post here and then write 500 words or more fiction on your own blog, then post the link to that entry back here in the comment section for everyone else to see, visit and hopefully comment on your creative writing. Much as is being done for countless other groups in blogger, multiply and elsewhere.

A new image will go up as and when I get around to it usually every two weeks. You're welcome to copy the button and post it on your blog too if you wish. The link to go with the button is http://jacbookishly.blogspot.com/search/label/Calliope%20Ex

All photographs, deadlines and links to contributors blogs can be reached by clicking The Calliope Experiment button in my sidebar. Any suggestions for images would be greatly appreciated.

And here's this week's picture. Remember 500 words on what it puts into your mind.

Put a link to your piece of work in the comments for this blog so that others can read, comment and perhaps join in the experiment in future.

Deadline for Experiment #6 - Sunday 4th January 2009

Look Into My Eyes!

2008-12-25T11:23:00.005Z

I love this advert and for no other reason than it makes me laugh. So this is here just because I want it to be. "look into my eyes".

Almost Here

2008-12-24T16:06:00.002Z

I was hoping to have finished The Dante Club so I could review it before Christmas but it was not to be. Truth to tell I'm barely past the first chapter too much to do, too little time and so on and so forth.

I just want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas or Joyful Seasons Greetings whichever is your preference and also a wonderful, enjoyable, prosperous and interesting 2009.

Merry Christmas!

Peace and Goodwill to all

2008-12-21T18:13:00.004Z

Some nutcase is setting off fireworks, the neighbours upstairs sound like a heard of elephants on speed, the dogs are going mental, and I'm trying so very hard to be calm, rational and pleasant but I think it's a losing battle.

Ok here is the place I want to be, right now until at least January 2nd if not longer. I wish, I wish, I wish.

Update

2008-12-20T15:12:00.003Z

Since whenever it was, August or September or whatever I've had a break from all things computerish, not intentionally it just happened. Anyway I've read a few books and very little else if the truth be known. I haven't written any reviews but I think I should put the books I've read here just so that I remember, memory again, age thing. Here goes.

The Alexander Cipher - Will Adams
Bear Island, Breakheart Pass, The Guns of Navarone, Puppet on a Chain, - Alistair MacLean
Behold Here's Poison, A Blunt Instrument, Detection Unlimited, Duplicate Death, Death in the Stocks, Envious Casca, Footsteps in the Dark, No Wind of Blame, Penhallow, They Found Him Dead, The Unfinished Clue, Why Shoot A Butler, - Georgette Heyer
Beneath the Bleeding, The Distant Echo - Val McDermid
Black Order, Map of Bones, Sandstorm - James Rollins
The Bone Collector, The Coffin Dancer, - Jefferey Deaver
Darkly Dreaming Dexter, Dearly Devoted Dexter - Jeff Lindsay
Dead as a Doornail, All Together Dead, Dead to the World, Dead Until Dark, Definitely Dead, Living Dead in Dallas, Club Dead, Grave Sight, Grave Surprise, An Ice Cold Grave - Charlaine Harris
The Echo, The Shape of Snakes - Minette Walters
Greywalker - Kat Richardson
Guilty as Sin, Still Waters - Tami Hoag
The Interpretation of Murder - Jed Rubenfeld
Wit'ch Gate, Wit'ch Star, Wit'ch Storm, Wit'ch War - James Clemens
The Lady Killer - Martina Cole
Magic Bites, Magic Burns - Ilona Andrews
Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination - Helen Fielding
Ratcatcher, Resurrectionist - James McGee
The Runaway Jury - John Grisham
Sacred Stone, Trojan Odyssey - Clive Cussler
A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
Bones to Ashes - Kathy Reichs
The Devil in the White City - Erik Larson

I'm sure there are some I've forgotten until I pick the book up and say "read it". Sooooo, what next?

Well on the agenda I have recently purchased or have removed from my TBR pile (here we go again)...

By Matthew Pearl fictional historical mysteries with a few facts thrown in
The Poe Shadow
The Dante Club

By Audrey Niffenegger
The Time Traveler's Wife

By Elizabeth Kostova
The Historian

By Sue Monk Kidd
The Secret Life of Bees

By Val McDermid
The Grave Tattoo

and an offering of chick lit by Brian Gallaher entitled The Feng-Shui Junkie. Don't know if I'll manage it, depends on how much mushy romantic crap is involved. As you are aware I don't have a romantic bone in my body, at all, not, never, no how.

I've also got a few DVD's which I may branch out into reviewing, not sure yet anyway here's the list - some new some old, some I've seen and some I haven't.

Kung Fu Panda
Eight Below
The Forbidden Kingdom
Big Nothing
Run Fat Boy Run
Hot Fuzz
Fred Claus
Stardust
Enchanted
1408
Juno
Signs
The Usual Suspects
Shaun of the Dead
Mr Magoriums Wonder Emporium
Air Buddies
Underdog
and the 1st and only season of Blood Ties

Catch you all later, hope the Seasons preparations are going along ok, they've kind of ground to a halt here, the tree is still in it's box under my bed, haven't checked the lights, just don't have the spirit at the moment but I'm sure it will arrive eventually.

It's Almost The End of 2008

2008-12-20T11:38:00.004Z

Finally, I have returned and hopefully there will be lots of books in my Christmas Presents for me to review, but even if there aren't I have a TBR mountain of the proportions of Everest.

Hopefully there are people out there that will think "Hey she's back goodie!" of course there may be those who groan or those who think Huh? but nevertheless I shall perservere.

Right let's get this show on the road. Eep! Guess I need to do some housekeeping around here.

Just a quick hello

2008-08-05T17:50:00.003+01:00

Just wanted to say thanks everyone for the comments. Obviously I haven't been around much. I have something wrong with my hands which makes typing almost impossible at the minute (nothing drastic just stupidity on my part). This post is taking ages but wanted to say hello and I'll be back soon I hope.

Book Review: Confessor by Terry Goodkind

2008-06-19T23:11:00.002+01:00

ISBN: 978 0 00 725082 0
Publisher: HarperVoyager an Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers
Copyright © Terry Goodkind 2007
603 Pages, Hardcover
Genre: Fantasy

Series: The Sword of Truth

Prequel - Debt of Bones
Book 1 - Wizard's First Rule
Book 2 - Stone of Tears
Book 3 - Blood of the Fold
Book 4 - Temple of the Winds
Book 5 - Soul of the Fire
Book 6 - Faith of the Fallen
Book 7 - The Pillars of Creation
Book 8 - Naked Empire
Book 9 - Chainfire
Book 10 - Phantom
Book 11 - Confessor

This is the last book of three, "Chainfire", "Phantom" and "Confessor" which marks the end of an 11 book series. The trilogy tells of Richard Rahl's search for his missing wife Kahlan, the continuing war with the Imperial Order, of magic being destroyed and contaminated, and a spell that has wiped certain memories from the populace.

Though I was disappointed with the preceding book "Phantom" I read this with the hope that the author would return to his earlier skill as a storyteller. Unfortunately it wasn't to be. Again the lectures on politics, history and magical lore were repeated too often and the descriptions of the violence and hatred seemed to become more and more elaborate and increasingly nauseating.

Though the ending should have given a sense of satisfaction, by that time the characters that I had so admired at the beginning of this series I had ended up disliking, and so I really didn’t care what happened to them. The philosophical monologue bored me as it was the same few phrases paraphrased and repeated, which on reflection, sums up the rest of the book.

I was glad when it was finally finished and the dreariness could disperse.

Book Review: Phantom by Terry Goodkind

2008-06-19T20:11:00.006+01:00

ISBN: 978 0 00 714563 2
Publisher: HarperVoyager an Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers
Copyright © Terry Goodkind 2006
587 Pages, Hardcover
Genre: Fantasy

Series: The Sword of Truth

Prequel - Debt of Bones
Book 1 - Wizard's First Rule
Book 2 - Stone of Tears
Book 3 - Blood of the Fold
Book 4 - Temple of the Winds
Book 5 - Soul of the Fire
Book 6 - Faith of the Fallen
Book 7 - The Pillars of Creation
Book 8 - Naked Empire
Book 9 - Chainfire
Book 10 - Phantom
Book 11 - Confessor

In the preceding book "Chainfire", Richard Rahl is the only person who remembers Kahlan existed. He spent the whole book trying to find proof to convince everyone that he wasn't insane and that something was dreadfully wrong.

Phantom carries on this story. Richard, after having proved that Kahlan is not a figment of his imagination, that she is his wife and also the Mother Confessor, to certain of his friends and family, now has to figure out a way of getting her back. At the same time he has to find a way of dealing with the evil Sisters of the Dark, stopping The Imperial Order from sweeping through the Midlands and destroying civilization, learning how to finally use his magical powers as the only War Wizard to have been born in living memory, and finding a way to replace everyone's lost memories.

I had been waiting for this book after having read all of the previous 9 plus the prequel novella and enjoying them, some more than others. When I began to read I was so disappointed, where was the humour, the fast paced adventure, the wonderful characters that I remembered. The book rambled on with long passages of political invective, magical formulas and spell forms, even algebra was mentioned at one point.

Characters came and went and I found myself wondering why on earth the author had bothered to bring them back if they were not going to be allowed, at the very least, to show their personalities. I can only imagine that the memories lost to the people of the Midlands and D'Hara had also been lost to Mr Goodkind himself.

Then at the end of the book the story still isn't finished. Now we have to look forward to another whole book to finish off the things that quite possibly could have been brought to a satisfactory conclusion in this one.

I was not impressed at all. Though I don't usually rate books this one I will. I give it 1 star. Very Poor.

Behind Hand But Happy

2008-06-18T00:30:00.005+01:00

Well after having a completely lazy, relaxing, heavenly long weekend I'm now way behind on all the things I need to do. Five book reviews, my Calliope Experiment from last week, the new Calliope Experiment picture, visiting everyone's TT post, course work, housework, blah, blah, and so on and so forth.

I can't say I'm sorry though. You must all, at some point, have felt the need to get away because if you didn't you'd scream, or throw things, or just explode (just imagine the mess that would be to have to clear up!).

Anyway, I'll get to it after I've finished looking at my newly acquired, prize possession, which came from Amazon this morning (bet you would never have guessed it was a book). Bad Jelly the Witch by Spike Milligan. A fairy story written by one of my favourite comedians and a story that I first heard when I was a child on a children's programme called Jackanory. I've wanted to own it ever since then.

Right off I go, now what should I do first?

First thing I think is go to bed it's 1.30 in the morning LOL! Tomorrow/Today I will visit TT posts and comment until my fingers go numb.

Tuesday Thingers: Most Popular Book According To LT

2008-06-17T10:54:00.010+01:00

Today's Question from Marie at The Boston Bibliophile: "What's the most popular book in your library? Have you read it? What did you think? How many users have it? What's the most popular book you don't have? How does a book's popularity figure into your decisions about what to read?"

The most popular book that I have (according to LT's Zeitgeist) is Harry Potter and the Philosopher's (UK)/Sorcerer's (US) Stone by J. K. Rowling standing at 32,518 copies listed in LT catalogues, 306 reviews with an average rating of 4.23 stars and also 243 conversations.

Yes I've read it but only once so far. I bought the whole series last year and read them one after the other. The only reason that I did buy them was that I'd seen a few of the films and thought that there was more to the story. I was right. I enjoyed the books more than I enjoyed the films and if anyone's interested my favourite character is Professor Snape (though I'm not sure if that's a hold over from the actor Alan Rickman or not) and my favourite book in the series was the last one Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The popularity of the series didn't really play a part in my buying them, I just wanted to see the back story after watching the films.

The most popular book that I don't have (though it is on my wish list) is The Catcher In the Rye by J. D. Salinger which has 19,082 copies, 225 reviews, an average rating of 4.02 stars and 111 conversations.

Again this book went onto my wish list after watching the film Conspiracy Theory with Mel Gibson, where the book was mentioned a lot and was used as a means of tracking Gibson's character. I wanted to see why this particular book was used. Still do, but it's not at the top of my list so I'll get to it eventually, probably, maybe!

I don't really go by how popular or unpopular a book is, though if a book is popular there's likely to be more information on it and so it's thrust under the book reading publics collective nose a lot more.

So things like 1001 Books to Read before you die and other "must" reading lists don't interest me. Left to myself I'll read what I want to read, when I feel like reading it. So if it's a bestseller, mover and shaker or just that dusty old book stuffed in a corner and forgotten by everyone, if it sparks an interest in me I'll give it a go.

Book Review: Wit’ch Fire by James Clemens

2008-06-11T02:13:00.006+01:00

ISBN: 1841491500
Publisher: Orbit an imprint of Time Warner Books UK
Website: orbitbooks
Copyright © Jim Czajkowski 1998
Author Website: www.jamesclemens.com
496 Pages, Paperback
Genre: Fantasy

This is the first in a five book fantasy series set in Alasea. It tells of a world that is bereft of magic powerful enough to combat the evil of the Dark Lord of Gul'gotha and his minions. For 500 years Alasea and its people have been under the rule of the Gul'gothan hoards, unable to break free, until finally they did not even remember that life had been different to how it was now. That is except for the whispered stories told as fables and legends of the last Mages and their final sacrifice.

Elena, a thirteen year old girl just becoming a woman, is the hope of Alasea though no one but the Dark Lord is aware of it. The story tells of her flight from evil, her loss, her fear and her courage. It tells of the people she meets, sent to help or to hinder. And it tells of the difficult choices that will be hers alone.

I started this book thinking, "Another quest, another battle between good and evil, let's see how it pans out". Well I was impressed. It was James Clemens' first novel and although the plot could have been a well worn rehash of many others, I thought it was well thought out and fresh. Many of the magical aspects of the plot were original and inventive, and strangely enough for a fantasy novel, believable.

I especially liked the characterisation. There are many figures in this story and what I particularly liked was that the evil ones were not always knowingly wicked, and the good not always to be trusted. The relationships were also very well written, so much so that I felt as if I was there with the people, sympathising with or reviling their motives as I came to know them better.

I enjoyed this story so I'm looking forward to continuing the adventure in the next book, and hopefully learning more about the history of Alasea and the different races.

The Banned and the Banished

Book 1 – Wit'ch Fire
Book 2 – Wit'ch Storm
Book 3 – Wit'ch War
Book 4 – Wit'ch Gate
Book 5 – Wit'ch Star

Tuesday Thingers: Tag or Not

2008-06-10T21:06:00.008+01:00

"Do you tag? How do you tag? How do you feel about tagging- do you think it would be better to have standardized tags, like libraries have standardized subject headings, or do you like the individualized nature of tagging? What are your top 5 tags and what do they say about your collection or your reading habits?"

I tag for my own benefit, I also use private comments and ordinary comments, though I'm in the process of re-organising my catalogue at present. Anything I can think of that helps me categorize my books I'll use as a tag, so I have author-male, female, english, american, french etc and then there's when the book was written, when the book was first published, whether it's hardcover or paperback, if it's part of a series, what number in the series, the time and location of the setting of the book, important characters, and of course then there's the genre and whether it's fiction or non-fiction.

I tag on my blogs too, it's easier to set up links if you tag on blogger. Of course I'm a bit obsessive but that's just me. Things I care about, like books, I obsess about normally offline too.

I wouldn't like standardised tags, I'm a bit of a rebel and would want to go my own way, so as far as I'm concerned it's fine just the way it is.

My top 5 tags in order of frequency are fiction, owned, paperback, author-male and to my shame, to be reviewed. All of them are over 300 except to be reviewed which is 298. The only thing I can say in my defence is that I only started to review in March this year.

What Kind of Writer Should You Be?

2008-06-10T00:45:00.003+01:00

Just a little bit of fun for a Monday Night/Tuesday Morning.

You Should Be a Film Writer

You don't just create compelling stories, you see them as clearly as a movie in your mind.

You have a knack for details and dialogue. You can really make a character come to life.

Chances are, you enjoy creating all types of stories. The joy is in the storytelling.

And nothing would please you more than millions of people seeing your story on the big screen!

What Type of Writer Should You Be?

The Calliope Experiment #5

2008-06-07T21:11:00.012+01:00

Here's this week's picture. Remember 500 words on what it puts into your mind. Put a link to your piece of work in the comments for this blog so that others can read, comment and perhaps join in the experiment in future.

Deadline for Experiment #5 - Saturday 14 June 2008

This week's contributors:

Smiley the Bandit by Kim L at Bold Blue Adventure

Taking Pictures by Trish at Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin’?

A Day At The Races (Calliope Experiment #4)

2008-06-07T20:38:00.005+01:00

A Day At The Races
by
Jacquie Reaville

They all stood at the top of the hill, Dave, Micky, Zach and Ben. Looking down Burnel Street to the duck pond at the bottom. It was a long way.

“Are you up for it?” Dave said “Not going to chicken out?”

“Nah” said Micky

“It was a dare” said Ben

Zach sniffed and wiped his nose on his sleeve. “Just remember to swerve when you reach the bottom”.

They all laughed thinking of the brackish water and the frightened ducks if anyone went careering into the pond. Not to mention the trouble from their parents.

They looked at each other, these four intrepid racers, then pulling on their cycle helmets each one climbed into his pride and joy, the machines made from their own imaginations and with the sweat of their brows.

At the top of Burnel Street four home made racing cars waited, painted in vivid colours that no vehicle should ever be. But when you only have left over paint found in garages and sheds, then the colours were just fine.

Orange, purple, sky blue and sunshine yellow assaulted the eyes. Wheels of all sizes and thicknesses. Flags and stickers bedecked the plywood chassis and initial letters in deepest black on the bonnets. They had worked hard on this project for four whole weeks, and today was the day.

“Can you see him?” Ben asked squinting down the hill.

“Not yet” answered Micky, “He’s probably forgotten what he’s supposed to be doing”

All four boys laughed.

“Hold on” said Zach, “Is that him?”

Sam, checked up the road and down, making certain there was no one about. Then he moved into the middle of the street. He looked up the hill and saw his four friends waiting. His stomach fluttered. He wished he’d been able to build a racer too, but he’d only just got back from Spain with his family yesterday. He took a deep breath and lifted both his arms in the air.

The four boys leaned forward, watching, their eyes glued to the slightest movement of Sam’s arms, and then he brought them down with a snap and they were off.

Shouting and whooping the four racers trundled down the hill, slowly at first then faster and faster until they were speeding hell for leather down the tarmac.

“Get out of the way!” came a shout as an axle came loose and Zach’s racer collapsed to the ground, the back end dragging, the wheels bouncing freely to the side of the road.

“Loos-er!” shouted Micky as he and Dave sped past laughing at Zach’s expression.

Ben wasn’t so lucky. He crashed right into the side of the sorry cart. He was jolted so hard his helmet shot off and hit Zach on the head. Both boys started laughing, unable to climb out of the wreckage until they had stopped.

Micky and Dave were neck a neck, and Sam stood in front of the pond, shifting from one foot to the other. “Come on” he said “Come on”. Not sure who he wanted to win but caught up in the excitement.

As the two racers sped towards him, Sam blinked, he saw Micky lift his arm and point to the right, pulling on his steering string. Dave did not. Sam closed his eyes unable to move as the sunshine yellow racer passed him, hit the stone edging of the pond and then took to the air.

They all stood at the bottom of Burnel Street looking up the hill. One of them dripping wet, the other four with an assortment of wheels and wood in their hands.

“Same time next Saturday?” asked Dave

“You’re on” the others said.

© J L Reaville - 2008

A Beautiful Day (Calliope Experiment #3)

2008-06-07T20:34:00.005+01:00

A Beautiful Day
by
Jacquie Reaville

When had the beach changed? When had it become so sad and lonely here? She remembered it so vividly. A happy place, children running, laughing, trying to skim pebbles onto the waves and squealing with delight as the white surf chased them back up towards the road.

She leant heavily on her stick, one gnarled hand clutching tightly to it, the other pulling at her coat. Cold. Why was she always so damned cold these days? She bowed her head, silver strands glittered as the breeze played with her soft curls.

There was a white rock among the various muted shades of grey and she smiled, surprised. Her face revealing the beauty, that had once been the talk of the village so many years ago.

…

“Mary!” Charlie called “Come on slow coach, I’ll race you to the end there by the pier”. The girl raised her head, shook her golden curls and stuck out her tongue “and why should I want to be racing on such a glorious day Charlie Morgan?” she called back “and especially with the likes of you” she added smirking.

“Oh the likes of me is it?” he said, “didn’t hear no ‘likes of you’ last night at the flicks now did we”. He began to walk towards her, his eyes fixed on hers as he came determinedly closer.

Mary yelped, turned tail and ran for the road, laughing, but Charlie was faster. He caught her hand and spun her around holding her in his arms and kissing her quickly on her upturned face. Mary smiled and slid her arms around his waist. Standing on the rocks they held each other, so glad to be alive and together.

“What are they doing?” Mary asked, looking towards a group of children moving rocks. Charlie shrugged but he caught Mary’s hand and they walked towards the group.

There was a heated discussion going on “A wall is boring” was one of the comments the couple heard the most as they stopped nearby.

“Well now” he said “all those white rocks you could build a sculpture maybe”.

Interested faces turned to look. “What kind Mr Morgan?” said one, “How Mr Morgan?” said another.

Mary moved closer “What about a sea monster?” she said.

The children rushed about the beach finding all the white rocks they could. Mary sat and watched, laughing at their antics, and Charlie explained the way the stones should be laid.

Finally, there it was, a long white snake, undulating away from the water. The children stood with hands on hips imitating Charlie as he nodded his head in satisfaction. “Good job!” he said.

He moved back to Mary and offered her his hand, pulling her back to her feet. They began to head back the way they had come, arm in arm, Mary’s head against his shoulder. “Bye Mr Morgan, Mrs Morgan!”

…

“Mrs Morgan!, Oh there you are” Dilly came bustling along the beach toward her. Mary blinked, and sighed. She pulled her coat tightly around her once more and turned to face her carer. “I just came for a walk” she said.

As she moved from the beach, Dilly’s arm around her shoulders, she heard again the sounds of children calling, and the gruff jovial voice of her husband answering them.

“It’s a beautiful day Dilly” she said.

“Not too cold for you?”

“No, not cold at all” Mary replied, smiling.

© J L Reaville - 2008

Book Review: The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

2008-06-06T23:16:00.008+01:00

ISBN: 9780141030142
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Website: www.penguin.co.uk
Copyright © Kim Edwards 2005
Book Website: The Memory Keeper’s Daughter
401 Pages, Paperback

The year is 1964 and a Doctor, David Henry and his wife, Norah are expecting their first baby. A series of events culminate in David Henry having to deliver his own child. A perfect baby boy, Paul, but then his twin sister is born, a complete surprise and also a problem. Phoebe has Down Syndrome. This is the story of a family that holds a secret at its centre. A family built on deceit, love, grief and anger, and what becomes of them.

When I began to read this story I was struck by the flowery and longwinded nature of the prose. I persevered however, and found that the story was interesting enough to attract my attention, but unfortunately the writing style made my attention wander.

The characters were stereotypical, and the story had too much sentimentality and not enough reality for my taste. I found that I didn’t really care about any of the people with the exception of Phoebe, and that characterisation wasn’t built upon enough.

Not my cup of tea at all.

Quiz: Which Austen Heroine?

2008-06-06T12:24:00.003+01:00

Take the Quiz here!

You Are...Elizabeth Bennet!

You are Elizabeth Bennet of Pride & Prejudice! You are intelligent, witty, and tremendously attractive. You have a good head on your shoulders, and oftentimes find yourself the lone beacon of reason in a sea of ridiculousness. You take great pleasure in many things. You are proficient in nearly all of them, though you will never own it. Lest you seem too perfect, you have a tendency toward prejudgement that serves you very ill indeed.

Well now I know LOL!

Quiz: Blog Readability Test

2008-06-04T21:59:00.005+01:00

Thanks to Lenore here for this. I tried it, and after I picked myself up off the floor through laughing so much, I posted it too.

Try it, you'll like it... maybe!

Where's Milo?

2008-06-04T02:19:00.008+01:00

I thought everyone might appreciate this. As I've mentioned before my dog will sometimes lick book covers, mainly second hand books, he's not that interested in new ones. I guess the used ones have more flavour! Well tonight he's gone one better I think.

I lost him tonight. My sister and I were looking everywhere and eventually I came to the conclusion that he had somehow got into the garden and then escaped from there. I was heading to my room to get my phone prior to going out to look for him.

I opened the bedroom door.

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry because there he was. I had to grab my phone quickly and take a snap....

He obviously fell asleep while he was reading!

I hasten to add that he is not allowed on my bed, not that he cares, especially if I'm not around, and obviously I wasn't around. Guess I'll be washing bed clothes tomorrow.

Tuesday Thingers: Is LT Your Only Account?

2008-06-03T20:26:00.010+01:00

"Why did you choose to open and maintain an LT account? Do you/did you use other online cataloging/social networking sites, like GoodReads or Shelfari? Do you use more than one? Are they different or do they serve different purposes?"

I only use LT for my library no other cataloguing sites at all. I'm not sure how I found out about it either. I think it was when I was reading a post on another blog, on another social network site, somewhere, in another life no doubt :)

As for the social side, I've closed down all my other blogs or pages. Having one is more than enough for me, especially as I'm so busy besides using the internet, and reading. Sometimes I wish I could just live on an island somewhere (the UK is rather larger than I intend in that comment). Let's say a small island, surrounded by vast amounts of open water and quite possibly sharks to deter visitors, there would have to be a decent internet connection though. Ok I'm waffling so I'll go now.

Quiz: Which Book Are You?

2008-06-03T16:29:00.010+01:00

This isn't exactly a tag but after doing the quiz for the second time, the first time was quite a while ago and was posted on a different social network when I had a Multiply page. Anyway, I answered different questions and got the same book, which is definitely an "Alice Moment" wouldn't you say?

You're Alice's Adventures in Wonderland!

by Lewis Carroll

After stumbling down the wrong turn in life, you've had your mind opened to a number of strange and curious things. As life grows curiouser and curiouser, you have to ask yourself what's real and what's the picture of illusion.
Little is coming to your aid in discerning fantasy from fact, but the line between them is so blurry that it's starting not to matter. Be careful around rabbit holes and those who smile too much, and just avoid hat shops altogether.

Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Tag: All About Authors

2008-06-03T16:08:00.007+01:00

Thanks to The Tome Traveller for tagging me on this. See Tome Traveller’s own answers here.

Who is your all time favourite author and why?

Such a very difficult question. Almost impossible to answer really, but if push comes to shove I’d have to say William Shakespeare. Living where I do which is an hour or two from Stratford I was lucky enough to visit the Shakespeare Theatre when I was a kid for English classes. I suppose I fell in love with the words from an early age. It also helped seeing the plays performed too, made them that much easier to understand.

Who was your first favourite author, and why? Do you still consider him or her among your favourites?

Enid Blyton, I grew up reading her stories - firstly "The Faraway Tree" and "Wishing Chair" stories and then as I grew older I progressed to "The Secret Seven" and "Famous Five" mysteries. I never liked Noddy though, still don’t, having seen a few episodes on Children’s TV lately. I still have a soft spot for Ms Blyton so much so that when I found her biography on Amazon it went immediately onto my wish list.

Who’s the most recent addition to your list of favourite authors, and why?

Markus Zusak, Diane Setterfield and Keith Gray. I’ve recently read novels by all three of them and was blown away. I’ve already got a couple more of Keith Gray’s to read, the other two I’ll now be on the look out for.

If someone asked you who your favourite authors were right now, which authors would first pop out of your mouth? Are there any you’d add on a moment of further reflection?

Straight out I’d say old and new - William Shakespeare, Thomas Hardy, Jules Verne, H G Wells, John Wyndham, Wilfred Owen, Oscar Wilde, Mark Twain, Jane Austen, Anne Rice, Martina Cole, Tom Sharpe, Tom Holt, David Eddings and Terry Goodkind.

On reflection I’d add, Diane Setterfield, Markus Zusak, Keith Gray, L Frank Baum (after watching Tin Man on TV and deciding to read the OZ stories again), Edgar Rice Burroughs and P G Wodehouse.

I almost forgot Enid Blyton and Clive King (author of Stig of the Dump)Doh!

-----

Rules: Link to the person that tagged you, post the rules somewhere in on your blog, answer the Author questions, tag some people in your post, let the tagees know they’ve been chosen by leaving a comment on their blog, let the tagger know your entry is posted.

I’ve seen that this has been going the rounds so I’ll just say if you haven’t already done this then "Tag you’re it!"

The Calliope Experiment #4

2008-05-31T23:25:00.014+01:00

Here's this week's picture. Remember 500 words on what it puts into your mind.

Put a link to your piece of work in the comments for this blog so that others can read, comment and perhaps join in the experiment in future.

Deadline for Experiment #4 - Saturday 7 June 2008

This week's contributors:

"A Day At The Races" by Jacquie Reaville

Book Review: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

2008-05-31T21:45:00.008+01:00

ISBN: 9780552773898
Publisher: A Black Swan Book by Transworld Publishers
Website: http://www.booksattransworld.co.uk/
Copyright © Markus Zusak 2005
Illustrations Copyright © Trudy White 2005
Author Website: Markus Zusak
554 Pages, Paperback

Narrated by Death, this is the story of Liesel Meminger, a young German girl trying to survive the hardships and deprivations of Germany during WWII. It is the story of a street “Himmel Street” and its inhabitants, and the town of Molching close neighbour to Dachau Concentration Camp. Perhaps it’s the story of the ordinary German people too, not the ones that went to fight, but the ones that were left behind, the children, the women and the men.

The characters, the places, the emotions were so exquisitely drawn that I found myself standing on Himmel Street, watching the football games, or the marching Hitler Youth, or walking alongside Liesel as she delivered the ironing to her foster mother’s customers.

With Death as a constant companion, telling the story, complaining a little about all the work he had to do at that particular time, and how sometimes he was bound to get involved in individual stories if he wasn’t careful. He was amusing and forthright. A surprisingly good story teller in fact.

This story deeply moved me. I cannot begin to explain the laughter and the tears that came in equal measure when reading. I’m not prone to tears, so I must leave it to you to draw your own conclusions in that regard.

An excellent book and one that I would recommend to anyone.

Book Review: The Magic Cottage by James Herbert

2008-05-31T20:51:00.007+01:00

ISBN: 0 330 37625 X
Publisher: Pan Books an imprint of Macmillan Publishers Ltd
Website: www.panmacmillan.com
Copyright © James Herbert 1986
393 Pages, Paperback

I was expecting a horror story, as James Herbert is pretty famous for those, but I didn’t really get one with this book. I wasn’t disappointed though I just had to switch my expectations to another track.

Mike Stringer, the narrator of this tale, and his partner Midge (Margaret) Gudgeon relocate from busy London to the countryside, close to the New Forest. Their new home is Gramarye, a run down cottage set in woodland and close to the village of Cantrip. Odd though it may seem when they eventually move in, but the cottage wasn’t in such disrepair as they first thought, and the woodland animals are all so very friendly, almost tame.

Life is good, but there are bad times coming. The people from the Synergist Temple begin to call. The vicar from Cantrip comes with dire warnings. And just who exactly is that dark figure who keeps watching the house?

This was an enjoyable and easy read for me. Having read most of James Herbert’s books old and new I wasn’t surprised that the story greeted me like an old friend. Characters were funny and real, even the ones that weren’t human.

The story runs along and takes you with it, there are twists and turns but you can usually see them coming so they don’t come as any great surprise. An easy read but not one to stay in the mind after it’s finished and put back on the book shelf.

Book Review: The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

2008-05-31T19:57:00.007+01:00

ISBN: 978-0-7528-8167-6
Publisher: Orion Books Ltd
Website: www.orionbooks.co.uk
Copyright © Diane Setterfield 2006
456 Pages, Paperback

I started reading and immediately liked Margaret Lea the narrator. There was something in her quiet manner that reached out through the pages of the book, took my hand and gently lead me through the history of Angelfield House and the story of Vida Winter.

Vida is an author coming to the end of her life and wishes to have her biography written. She wants to “tell the truth” as she puts it. Margaret is her biographer. As the tale unfolds you are drawn into the dark places and secrets of Vida’s childhood and consequent to those revelations, you are entrusted with Margaret’s own secrets and fears.

The prose was magical to me, quite beautiful, and put me in mind of a modern day Jane Austen. Descriptions and characters were so well written that I can still see them now.

My opinion - A ghost story. A mystery. A love story. Whatever you choose to call it, this was a book that was recommended to me by quite a few people, well they were all dead right. A great story and a wonderful experience.

Book Review: Veil of Darkness by Gillian White

2008-05-31T16:25:00.007+01:00

ISBN: 0-7531-6617-8
Publisher: Isis Publishing Ltd
Website: www.isis-publishing.co.uk
Copyright © Gillian White 1999
408 Pages, Paperback

Three “damaged” women meet at a Cornish Hotel where they have all gone for one reason or another to work, or more honestly, to escape. Whilst there, they find an old book, long forgotten, and are captivated and fixated by it. The story is how that book changes their lives. Changes for the better or are they really for worse?

Now when I was reading I had real difficulty in liking any of the three main characters. They didn’t really have my support though under the circumstances sympathy and support should have been there. I can only presume that it was the way the characters were written, compassion seemed to have been left out, and unfortunately I began to dislike and be irritated by them.

The story was a surprise, and it was based on a very good idea, but I can’t say that I enjoyed it. I especially didn’t enjoy the last two pages which seemed to me as if they’d been hurriedly written to finish off a story that didn’t need finishing. I believe the book would have benefited without it.

So my opinion - a surprising storyline that did keep you guessing, but not a good read.

Tag: Six Random Things About Me

2008-05-31T15:03:00.010+01:00

Thanks to She Is Too Fond of Books for tagging me on this. See her 6 things here.

It took me a bit of thought to come up with six things that I could post on a public blog HAH!

I’ve almost been married twice. Once when I was 18 but I talked myself out of it by saying I was too young and hadn’t seen life yet. Second time was a couple of years ago, the wedding was booked so was the reception. We had a few months to wait until the fateful day but I backed out… this time (being more grown up) I realised that I didn’t love the guy enough to move to the States and be step-mom to his children. I even had my wedding dress made … expensive habit of mine cancelling weddings LOL.

When I was a child (about 7 or 8) my Mother, bless her, thought it would be great to send me to dance lessons. That was ballet, tap and acrobatic dance. I was expelled because I wouldn’t wear the silly dresses and wanted to keep my jeans and bumpers on (bumpers = trainers sort of).

I love ballroom dancing and, even if I say so myself, I’m pretty damn good at it too, even now years after being taught (no tomboy tantrums that time). I just wish I’d learned how to Rumba, that is one heck of a sensuous dance, but I was on holiday when the class was taught that one, and I never got around to it.

I hate balloons! I don’t know why I just really hate them, ever since I can remember. Just one of those odd things I guess.

I’m frightened to death of clowns and I don’t much like dolls either. All my dolls used to end up in the bottom of the wardrobe hidden under spare blankets. My parents finally got the message and only bought me stuffed animals and teddy bears after that. They stopped taking me to the circus too after I had a screaming fit when the clown came too close.

When I was 5 and at nursery school, being the tomboy that I was (and still am truth be known) I was climbing on one of the walls that surrounded a kind of pit, I think it was a bit of building left over from the air raid shelters that they’d never got rid of. Anyway I slipped and went head first into a crop of stinging nettles. My grandmother was due to collect me and when she arrived and saw me absolutely covered in nettle rash, probably screaming my head off knowing me, this shy little woman went absolutely crazy at the teachers. I was always a bit frightened of her after that.

Rules of the game - Link to the person that tagged you, post the rules somewhere in your meme, write the six random things, tag six people in your post, let the tagees know they’ve been chosen by leaving a comment on their blog, let the tagger know your entry is posted.

I've noticed that so many people have been tagged already so I apologise if I'm double tagging. Here are my 6 victims.

Allison's Attic
As Usual I Need More Shelves
LeesyKnits
Reading Mama
The Italian Blog
Book Hangover

Tuesday Thingers: How Many Books Do You Have Listed?

2008-05-27T16:54:00.010+01:00

"How many books do you have cataloged in your LibraryThing account? How do you decide what to include - everything you have, everything you've read - and are there things you leave off?"

At this moment I have 511 books listed, tagged and commented on. Only 11 have reviews though. I have quite a few boxes in the spare room that are full of books. I just haven’t got around to listing them yet. Well I have only been a member since the beginning of March!

I'm a firm believer in including every book I physically have in my possession, whether it has been read or not. That's why I catalogued a couple of Rupert the Bear Annuals from when I was a child and then there are my Teach Yourself books, landscape gardening and DIY books too. I have a few e-books listed and I think I've decided to add the lot in but I have to figure out how I'm going to catalogue them properly. I have about 180 not added, mostly those termed "classics". I don't have any audio books but if I did I'd put them in too.

What I don't add are books I want. So no wish list books are mixed up with the owned. I actually put my wish list on my wiki page on LT. It took me a little while to figure out how to use it but I update it regularly now and there's a link to it off my LT profile page - and then of course there's the two wish lists at Amazon UK, for fiction and non-fiction.

I don't add books that I no longer own either, meaning those books that I had and lost prior to joining LT. Being a book hoarder it's unlikely that I'll give away or mooch or sell any in my collection so that problem won't arise in future, and I really don't intend to loose any more!

Library Books though are a grey area. As I've only just managed to get my new library card after changing addresses I haven't visited the library yet. Not sure what I'll do then, but I suppose if I want to review the books on LT I'll have to add them in to my catalogue. That's a "we'll see what happens when…" decision I think.

What are your thoughts on library books, e-books and wish lists?

The Calliope Experiment #3

2008-05-24T20:12:00.016+01:00

Here's this week's picture make of it what you will. Remember 500 words or more and put the link to your piece of work in the comments for this blog. I'm looking forward to it.

Deadline for Experiment #3 - 31 May 2008

This week's contributors:

"The Beach" by LisaMM from Books on the Brain

Untitled by Trish from Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'?

"The Shock Wall" by Petunia from Educating Petunia

"A Beautiful Day" by Jacquie Reaville

The Power of Moonlight (Calliope Experiment #2)

2008-05-24T19:56:00.011+01:00

The Power of Moonlight
by
Jacquie Reaville

Not a sound, not a movement, disturbed her as she sat on the carpet of grass waiting. Illuminated by the moon, its light kissed her skin bleaching the colour from her, turning her to a carefully crafted statuette, still and cold and silent. Only the sparkle in her eyes betrayed her. A glint of something more than the alabaster moon could transform.

The old church clock struck the hours, twelve doleful notes echoing across the hills and the figure stood gracefully, stretching her arms towards the moon as if she could hold it in a lovers embrace. Her eyes closed, her lips curved into a wry smile for a moment and then she began to sway.

At first her movements were slow and simple as if she did not really know what she was about, but then they became faster, more passionate, full of intricate designs and gestures. Her eyes flashed like diamonds. Her hair whipped across her face, hiding her features and her skirts flared as she whirled, revealing her bare feet in their elaborate steps. She danced, this moonlit figure, on the hills above the church, and as she danced she cried out to the moon.

Slowly the figure sank to her knees, her arms raised once more to the moon, the pleading expression on her face cracked as bitter tears ran down her cheeks. She cried again into the darkness, a long howl of despair and hunger.

The village below slept though not quietly. In their beds the women mumbled and uneasily they tossed and turned seeking a more comfortable place. Men shivered, pulling their quilts closer around their chins, not quite waking. Restless children called out in their sleep, whimpering softly. Small hands reaching for something safe and warm to comfort them.

The figure on the hill stared down at the village, her eyes wet with the tears she had shed. She searched but saw no movement. Sighing deeply she flicked back her hair, deftly tying it with a ribbon taken from her pocket. She sat again on the grass and feeling about with her fingers in the darkness she found a sharp stone knife. She pulled it to her and clutched it tight to her chest, as she surveyed the village again.

There! She sat forward and with a quick movement her eyes found the boy again. No she had not been mistaken. He was walking slowly through the village towards the hill on which she sat. A tall youth, muscular, quite handsome. A pink tongue flicked from her mouth, catching the thin trickle of saliva that had escaped her lips, and then it was gone again.

The moon began to hide its face behind a blanket of clouds. She rose to her feet, not quite so gracefully as before, stumbling slightly until she moved back into the moons light. It was growing weaker that light, and the darkness seemed to hurt her. Throwing desperate glances between the encroaching black and the one she had called, she backed away from the dark shadow fingers that sought to hold her.

The old church clock began to strike the quarter and the figure hissed her denial. As the darkness enveloped her the boy stopped his walk, and came back to wakefulness. He looked around and shivered, then turned and sped off back to his bed, away from the deserted place. Away from Witch Hill.

See here for other contributors

Tuesday Thingers: Discussion Groups

2008-05-20T09:26:00.010+01:00

This week's topic: Discussion groups.

Do you belong to any (besides Early Reviewers)? Approximately how many? Are there any in particular that you participate in more avidly? How often do you check?

When I first joined LT at the beginning of March I was a member of about 20 groups but due to the time constraints of my coursework and blogging I cut it right down to just two, Early Reviewers and The 50 Book Challenge.

I do participate in others when a topic interests me, some of which are Book Talk, 40 Something LibraryThingers, and Thing(amabrarians) that go bump in the night, and of course The Green Dragon - but to be honest I lost interest in the talk side of LT fairly quickly, probably because there are so many groups that unless you have a lot of time to spare, finding the wood in all the trees is almost impossible.

In the end I just concentrated on the interesting libraries and people that had friended me as well as cataloguing my books and reviewing them. And now of course I've joined Tuesday Thingers.

How does everyone else manage their online time so that it doesn't eat into their offline time?

Book Review for Atlantis by David Gibbins

2008-05-19T11:47:00.013+01:00

ISBN: 978 0 7553 2422 6
Publisher: Headline Book Publishing
Website: www.headline.co.uk
Copyright © 2005 David Gibbins
Author Website: www.davidgibbins.com
464 Pages, Paperback

Jack Howard is a marine archaeologist and along with a number of his friends and colleagues is lucky enough to discover the key to the location of what most people would consider a myth. Unfortunately they’re not the only ones. So the adventure begins with a race to the prize before piracy, terrorism and even nuclear warfare rob the world of a wonderful discovery.

Unfortunately the book was very hit and miss for me. For example excitement would build, the team diving in unfamiliar waters, not knowing what they were going to find and then suddenly the author would give long descriptions consisting of an awful lot of technical jargon and diving know-how, and to a non-diver like myself the whole thing became a little tedious and annoying. I just wanted to know what happened next.

Also a lot of the story line was based on happenstance, the right people being in the right place at the right time with access to the right equipment. The dénouement was predictable too, based again on a twist of fate, so was pretty much of an anti-climax.

As the author is himself a marine archaeologist of some note it seems likely that he may have been hampered by his own expertise. In my opinion an average book, the material was there but unfortunately it wasn’t used to the best advantage.

Book Review for Where Eagles Dare by Alistair MacLean

2008-05-18T01:56:00.009+01:00

ISBN: 0 00 615804 8
Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers
Website: www.harpercollins.co.uk
Copyright © Devoran Trustees Ltd 1967
343 Pages, Paperback

A group of allied soldiers are dropped by parachute into Germany in order to find a way inside Schloss Adler (the castle of the eagle), the combined headquarters of the German Secret Service and the Gestapo. They have to rescue Lieutenant General Carnaby, an American general who is the overall co-ordinator for Operation Overlord, the Second Front, before he talks.

Someone though is sabotaging their efforts; can a member of the six British and one American Special Forces team be a traitor? The commanding officer, Smith, has brought a woman with him too, a fact unknown to the other team members. Added to that are the problems of the elite Alpenkorps being stationed at the foot of the mountain and the Castle, built on the side of the mountain, being only accessible by cable car.

This book was an extremely enjoyable read, with the twists and turns and plot loops, focussing on one then another as the guilty party. With the finale as exciting and explosive as one could wish for.

Although I already knew the story from watching the movie countless times (staring Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood), it was definitely well worth reading the original, especially for the ironic wit of Schaffer and Smith’s exchanges.

All in all, a World War II thriller, action packed and full of suspense, which I have come to expect from MacLean’s writing. I wasn’t disappointed at all.

The Calliope Experiment #2

2008-05-17T21:22:00.018+01:00

This is something I started for myself, hoping that it would get me motivated to practice my writing skills. So just as an idea I'm throwing it open to everyone else, if you care to participate that's great if not that's still ok.

If you want to take part then the way of working it, I would suggest, would be for everyone to take a copy of the pictures that I post here and then write their 500 words or more fiction on their own blog, then post the link to that entry back here in the comment section for everyone else to see, visit and hopefully comment on your creative writing. Much as is being done for countless other groups in blogger, multiply and elsewhere.

A new image will go up every week on a Saturday and the following Saturday will be the deadline for the writing on that image. You're welcome to copy the button and post it on your blog too if you wish. The link to go with the button is http://jacbookishly.blogspot.com/search/label/Calliope%20Ex

Previous weeks pictures will be posted to one of my side bars and linked back to the deadline blog for that picture. Any suggestions for images would be greatly appreciated.

So here's this week's picture.

Experiment #2 - Deadline Saturday 24 May 2008

Here are this week's contributors

"The Sleepless Night" by Lisa at Books on the Brain

Untitled by Trish at Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'?"

"The Power of Moonlight" by Jacquie Reaville at Calliope's Coffee House

"Through a Moonlit Window" by Petunia at Educating Petunia

The Birthday Gift (Calliope Experiment #1)

2008-05-17T19:27:00.013+01:00

The Birthday Gift
by
Jacquie Reaville

"Garden Gnomes?" I looked at the wrapping paper spilled on the floor and then examined the box again "Three Garden Gnomes!"

"Do you like them?" He asked.

Swallowing my original retort and pasting a smile on my face I turned and replied that they were lovely. May the gods not strike me dumb for the lie. The three children looked so happy and excited sitting at the kitchen table, still piled high with last nights empty wine glasses and party plates.

"We saw them in the shop and asked Mom to buy them for us, I knew you’d like them, but they’re not gnomes Auntie they’re elves." Nathan grinned his gap toothed grin, and I couldn’t help but smile for real.

I looked at the picture on the box and noticed that although the lettering proclaimed gnomes they were in fact not the rotund, garishly coloured little men with beards that I’d thought. "You know I think you’re right" I said.

"Fairies!" said Chloe

"Pixels!" shouted Emily through a mouthful of milk so as not to be outdone by her older siblings.

Nathan rolled his eyes "That’s pixies Em" he said, patiently wiping the milk spatter from his sleeve.

Emily nodded and took another drink. I turned away again to hide the smile that was rapidly growing into a silly grin. They always had this effect on me, my sister’s three babies, even when hung over like this morning.

"Well where do you think they should live?" I asked, "Under the Lilac tree, next to the fish pond, or what about by the rose bushes?"

"Kismas Tree" said Emily, thankfully without an accompaniment of milk.

I looked through the kitchen window at my garden, and found the row of old Christmas trees planted after each December’s festivities were finished. They were doing quite well surprisingly, and there was a bare piece of ground beneath them. I picked up the box, and moved to the back door, "Come on then!" I called as I walked outside. There was a scraping of chairs and the inordinately loud sound of scrabbling feet as the three scamps followed me.

Chloe ran on ahead and started clearing some of the pine needles from the ground "Just here, right here" she said pointing. I looked and saw a slight depression almost a circle or ring, shaking my head at the coincidence I opened the box and took the figures out one by one. When they were placed to everyone’s satisfaction we all stood back and looked at the tableaux. I had to admit that they did make a pretty scene.

Emily walked around the three figures and peered into their eyes then she nodded and said matter of factly "Happy here".

Nathan chuckled softly "Well that’s all right then" he said, taking her hand. Chloe moved over and grasped Emily’s other hand, and three pairs of eyes turned to look at me.

"I suppose they should have names" I said.

"Well yeah" said Chloe, tapping her foot.

Emily smiled, and then she pulled her hands free and sat down cross legged on the grass. Her brother and sister sat with her. I looked from one to the other and then with a soft sigh I sat down too.

"How do garden fairies get their names?" I asked.

Nathan chuckled again "Don’t know Auntie Imp, but I really hope you’re going to tell us" He said.

569 Words

The Calliope Experiment #1

2008-05-13T23:34:00.012+01:00

"If a picture's worth a thousand words" as the song goes. I'm not asking for 1,000 only 500. So 500 words by Saturday, on whatever the picture pushes into the mind and out of the fingers. Let's see what happens.

Now I'm pretty sure that Collective Chris probably won't post anything so it will be up to me. Until Saturday 17th May then.

Here is this week's contributor:

"The Birthday Gift" by Jacquie Reaville at Calliope's Coffee House

Book Review for Pandora in the Congo by Albert Sánchez Piñol

2008-05-13T11:02:00.013+01:00

ISBN: 978 1 84195 815 6
Publisher: Canongate Books Ltd
Website: www.canongate.net
Copyright © Albert Sánchez Piñol 2005
Translation Copyright © Mara Faye Lethem 2008
Pages 441, Hardcover

(An Early Reviewer Book sent to me by Canongate Books through LibraryThing for my review).

A story in two parts. In fact a story about writing a story, and the actual story. Firstly, the narrative of Tommy Thomson, his life in London as a fledgling ghost writer, the people in his life and his dreams of writing "a great book", and secondly the adventure written from Thomson’s prison visits with Marcus Garvey, a man awaiting trial for double murder.

The plot twists and turns, WWI happens (almost as a slight annoyance), and then the story continues to its not entirely unforeseen climax. Piñol moves the reader seamlessly between Thomson and Garvey’s stories, from London to the Congo, then back again and also through time, without the pause for thought that can sometimes happen with this strategy.

There is a flavour of Jules Verne or Edgar Rice Burroughs to the writing especially those sections relating to the journey through the Congo, which in my opinion is intentional by the author, possibly with his tongue planted firmly in his cheek. It worked for me.

I enjoyed this book enormously. It was humorous, puzzling and downright sinister in places, I shall most certainly be buying Piñol’s previous book and probably his next one too.

Book Review for The Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope

2008-05-13T00:48:00.012+01:00

ISBN: 978-0141031286
Publisher: Penguin Red Classics
Website: www.penguinclassics.co.uk
Anthony Hope 1894
208 Pages, Paperback

When reading I found myself surprised at how quickly and well the story unfolded, told as a narrative by Rudolf Rassendyll, the principal character, it skipped along quickly and drew me in without much effort, so much so that I read it at one sitting.

I greatly enjoyed his adventures in Ruritania, the humour, the deviousness and towards the latter part of the book the pathos. The characters were well drawn and although it was first published in 1894 it appeared to me that the style seemed timeless.

The plot is well known, an Englishman meets the crown prince of Ruritania and due to a romantic encounter, many years before, by a member of the Rassendylls and a member of the Elphbergs, it means that the two men are distant cousins, but more fortuitously it turns out, they also look so alike as to be mistaken one for the other, and so the story unfolds.

If you want adventure this is a good book to read, swashbuckling, chivalry, bravery and honour with romance and a choice of villainous enemies. Most enjoyable.

Book Review for The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham

2008-05-13T00:43:00.012+01:00

ISBN: 0 14 00 1440 3
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Website: www.penguin.co.uk
Copyright © The Estate of John Wyndham 1957
220 Pages, Paperback

This science fiction story takes place in a quiet, sleepy, very English village. For 24 hours the village is isolated, no one can enter if they try they immediately become unconscious. After 24 hours everything returns to normal… for a while at least. That period is referred to as the “Dayout”. Life continues as normal until the women, all the women, discover they have a condition that for most of them is incomprehensible.

The story moves along quite gently, much at the pace of Midwich itself I would imagine, with much debate and philosophising on evolution, invasion, survival and general differences between male and female opinion and emotion. But inexorably the pace increases as the situation becomes intolerable. Leading finally to a shocking but inevitable conclusion.

This is one of my favourite Wyndham novels.

Book Review for Malarkey by Keith Gray

2008-05-13T00:03:00.011+01:00

ISBN: 0 09 9439441
Publisher: A Red Fox Book by Random House Children's Books
Website: www.kidsatrandomhouse.co.uk
Copyright © Keith Gray 2003
Author Website: keith-gray.com
197 Pages, Paperback

"The wrong person in the wrong place at the wrong time"… John Malarkey, 16 years old, two weeks at a new school, mid-term, and his life seems to fall apart. With the threat of exclusion and worse hanging over him, he moves through the periphery of school life trying to work out the who, the why and most importantly for him the "why me?".

Set in the English school system and describing budding teenage gangsters, bullying, money making schemes and a teaching staff that has little time to listen and even less idea as to what is going on under their noses.

The characters, plot and descriptions are so well written and believable and most especially the narrative of John Malarkey as he spends 24 hours trying to clear himself of the crimes he has been falsely accused.

This story is enthralling. I could not stop reading and was disappointed when it finally came to an end, because it came to an end! I just wanted it to go on and on. A very good read in the Adolescent/Young Adult genre.

Book Review for The Shakespeare Secret by J L Carrell

2008-05-12T23:51:00.011+01:00

ISBN: 978 0 7515 4035 2
Publisher: Sphere An Imprint of Little Brown Book Group
Website: www.littlebrown.co.uk
Copyright © Jennifer Lee Carrell 2007
Author Website: www.jenniferleecarrell.com
480 Pages, Paperback

Sometimes the wealth of Shakespeare law is a little overpowering. Though the trick Carrell uses of Kate Stanley knowing virtually all there is to know about the Bard and explaining it in layman’s terms to Ben Pearl, the British security expert, is a good plot continuation. It also explains it all to us as we’re running to keep up with the characters when they jump from country to country and back again, trying to keep one step ahead of a serial killer, the FBI and the British Police.

Unfortunately for me though, the characters are not fleshed out enough, their histories, feelings etc., I wish there had been more background on them to compensate for the in-depth information on Shakespeare. Because of this the book felt a little uneven, though it is still a good read. I would describe it as an exciting whodunit with a Shakespeare lecture thrown in.

I learned a lot about Shakespeare that I wasn’t aware of and a little about the old west and how popular Shakespeare was in the mining camps and western towns; definitely something that I’d like to find out more about.

Book Review for San Andreas by Alistair MacLean

2008-05-12T23:40:00.014+01:00

ISBN: 0 00 222830 0
Publisher: William Collins Sons & Co Ltd
Website: www.harpercollins.co.uk
Copyright © Alistair MacLean 1984
286 Pages, Hardcover

Set on a hospital ship in Norwegian waters, with a British Merchant Navy crew and a collection of doctors, nurses and orderlies, hunted by German planes and U-boats and not knowing the reason for the pursuit, a saboteur loose, wreaking havoc with the electrical systems, fuel lines, heating and medical supplies.

As soon as I began to read I was hooked. This is a World War II adventure thriller that had me jumping from one crew member to another looking for the bad hat, and being proved wrong, usually when another act of sabotage took place. I wasn’t alone, even the main characters were baffled.

The feeling of suspense was masterly, and the description of a badly damaged ship in hostile weather conditions was enough to have me shivering for real. But to my mind the dialogue between the characters coupled with the understated humour in the face of the towering odds against them is what turned the whole story into a masterpiece.

Contemplation

2008-05-11T18:15:00.003+01:00

Gazing through the window
a street, grey, yet glittering with frost
warm cheek pressed to chill glass
my lips caress a glass more delicate

The shimmer of a cloud against the moon
a glance as it passes displays
the stars bright, cold, magnificent,
so proud upon the artist’s velvet black

A sip or two of crimson, warming
as dazzled eyes look through the world
a memory, elusive, quickening by
touches a soft kiss against my brow

Palm sweeps softly against the pane
clearing the mist from thought and view
a smile now dances in my eyes
for the memory returned, of being loved

© J L Reaville - 2007